Reader Question: The hunt for navy shoes

Reader Question:Last weekend at Westfield Brandon I found a sassy navy and white jacket on the Ann Taylor sale rack. Original price: $80. I paid: $20. My heart was a flutter. And I have just the navy blue dress to wear with it. All I need now are navy heels. I heart these buckled peep-toes from Anntaylor.com, but I don't want heart the price.

Can you help me find some work-and-play appropriate navy heels for, say, $75 or less?

-- D. in Brandon

Ay! Ay! captain. Or, er, maybe not. A Deal Diva prides herself on being a master sleuth of all that is fashionable and marked down. But I must say this hunt proved quite the challenge. First of all, there must be a rule in the shopping guide book that requires all things navy to be priced above the $100 mark. And right under that requirement is the line that reads *must also look old-timey.* All this to say, for this shoe hunt, you must give thanks...first to Zappos.com (a wonderful find all my fellow shoe-aholics) and secondly to me for all the sweat and tears this search took: I'll take a martini served by a cute sailor. Shaken, not stirred!

Here's a Deal Diva tip on the house: When wearing a navy dress or suit, it's really best to opt for a brighter colored shoe. Too much navy can be stodgy. So I've added a few alternatives for your consideration.

Here we go....

These basic blue patent open toe pumps are simple, yet sexy. At $70, these are the perfect shoes to take your navy dress and jacket from first lady to boss lady.

These high steppers are cute and snazzy. And at $80, the perfect option for when you peel off that navy jacket after work and hit up happy hour. Use the money you save for a slammin' pedicure in fire engine red.

Brace yourself. I know this seems a little radical, but think about how fierce you'd be wearing your buttoned up navy ensemble and then, BAM! these red pretties are adorning your feet. You'll be turning heads all day. Think about it...

Hold the press. Yes, that is yellow. And yes it's bright. But remember, it's all about complementing navy, not matching it. And there are few colors that do it better than yellow. These light bright babies are on sale at: Ninewest.com for only $40 bucks.

About the bloggers

Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.

Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.